London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The latest Alzheimer’s drug has been denied for widespread usefulness by the NHS in England after the health spending watchdog stated that it “does not currently present value for the NHS”.
It is the second disease-modifying Alzheimer’s drug to be refused by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in a matter of months. Donanemab, produced by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, is a targeted antibody drug that delays down the early stages of Alzheimer’s. The drug Donanemab, and another recent drug for Alzheimer’s called lecanemab, have been known as a huge action forward in research because they target a comprehended cause of the disease, rather than just ministering the symptoms.
What challenges do new Alzheimer’s treatments face?
Remarking on new draft guidance rejecting the medicine, Helen Knight, the director of medicines evaluation at Nice, stated: “For Nice to be able to support a medicine for use in the NHS it must deliver additional benefits to patients, and it must also convey a good use of NHS resources and taxpayers’ money.
“Our independent committee examined all the available evidence, including the uses for carers. This shows donanemab could slow down mental decline by four to seven months, but this is just not enough benefit to explain the additional cost to the NHS. The cost-effectiveness estimate for donanemab is five to six times above what Nice normally assumes as an acceptable use of NHS resources. I know this will be disappointing news, but this is an emerging field of medicine and other treatments are being developed.”
Nice stated that the benefits of lecanemab, made by Eisai and sold under the trademark name Leqembi, were “just too small to explain the significant expense to the NHS” and in the draft guidance, it stated that the drug should not be rolled out for general use across the NHS.
How do lecanemab and donanemab compare in effectiveness?
Both donanemab and lecanemab attach to amyloid, a protein which builds up in the brainiacs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. By binding to amyloid, the medications are designed to help remove the buildup and slow down cognitive decline. Evidence indicates that people get the most usefulness if they are given the treatment at an earlier phase of the disease.